[capitalb]

I've had the same rotifer culture for quite some time now and 3 days before a big(2000 baby) hatch, the culture has crashed and burned. I've managed to filter out a few survivors but I dont think it will be enough to establish a culture soon enough. Is there anyone out there in the state of NJ that can help me out with a culture? It's a shot in the dark, but hey, no harm in asking. Thanks in advance.

[eldalote2]

Aquarium Fish, Coral & Invertebrate Foods & Feeding: Hikari Rotifers Frozen Food what about this, would this work???

[capitalb]

No but thank you anyway. The rotifers must be alive because of the need of live enzymes in the rotifers stomachs. The larval clownfish don't have the necessary enzymes in their digestive systems to break down food into energy but the rotifers do.

[eldalote2]

I dont want to see any mandarin babies die!

[eldalote2]

oh... that makes sense

[capitalb]

Oh no not the mandarin babies. They'll be fine! they're still eating infusoria for now and they don't lack the proper enzymes....it's my oscellaris (Nemos).They'll be hatching Saturday night at about 7:45 PM and I have no rotifers for them!

[capitalb]

Here's some footage of them spawning. Sorry about the blurriness!
Video of February 22,2008 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Video of reef porn - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

[capitalb]

Here's the update. Clownfish were born on Sat. with very few rotifers available. The next day I added some nannochloropsis hoping they might ingest some of it and miraculously break it down in their systems.The following day I fed them otohime(rotifer weaning diet)hoping they might ingest some and miraculously break it down in their systems. Day three I obtained a decent culture of rotis and at this point lost about 50 of the 300 clownfish collected. By rights they should have all perished by now, but haven't. Day four they're all happy and fed and the parents have laid another 2000 eggs. Go figure!

[eldalote2]

man your clowns are busy!!! happy couple i guess

[eldalote2]

just watched the video and they are so fat! maybe one day mine will stop fighting like an old couple and make babies.

[capitalb]

Try putting some frozen rotifers(thawed of coarse) in your tank at dusk or when your white lights go out. This will let them know that conditions are suitable for babies.How old are your clowns? Mine are at least 13 years old!

[eldalote2]

oh mine are still babies. the female is a little smaller than 2 inches and the male about 1 and a half. And according to the measurements of a woman they may be larger or smaller than that but i tried to lure them close to the glass so i could compare them to my ruler. but they were small at my lfs. how big can flase percs get?? i saw a maroon in there who was at least 4 inches long!

[adam jenkins]

Originally Posted by capitalb

Try putting some frozen rotifers(thawed of coarse) in your tank at dusk or when your white lights go out. This will let them know that conditions are suitable for babies.How old are your clowns? Mine are at least 13 years old!

I know this thread is a little old but will that really help?

[eldalote2]

hey bob, what anemone is that in your black and white clowns tank?? in the 20 gal nano?

[capitalb]

It's a pink tip BTA that has just recently split. I'd like to remove the one that has taken up residence in the back of my tank because it will be one less mouth to feed and I'll be able to see my clowns once in a while.My nano is only a 12G

[e_baer]

what do you do with all the babies after you raise them?

[eldalote2]

the pearly white anem is a pink tip bta? how many times has it split?

[capitalb]

I sell the babies to LFS and wholesalers or the occasional individual.The mandarin babies won't be for sale for quite a while yet.I know you're interested Elliot...I haven't forgotten about you!I'm still waiting for my true blacks to spawn again.They're not as fruitful as the oscellaris!The anenome has only split once and from what I was told by the Lfs it is a pink tip BTA.Sometimes the LFS just make up names as they go, so who knows?Sounds good!